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How the Famine Relief Fund works

More than 20 million people in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are at risk of starvation as a result of severe drought conditions and intensifying conflict. South Sudan is experiencing famine, and unless immediate action is taken, others could slide into a similar situation.

Children are being particularly affected by these humanitarian crises as some 1.4 million are now at risk of death from severe acute malnutrition.

Millions across the four affected countries and neighbouring countries are in need of basic necessities such as urgent food assistance, water, sanitation services, healthcare, shelter and other essential services.

On May 29, 2017, the Government of Canada launched the Famine Relief Fund in order to engage Canadians in responding to these humanitarian crises and reinforce the response of Canadian civil society to reach the most vulnerable and address the most acute needs of populations facing starvation in:

Nigeria

South Sudan

Somalia

Yemen

Since these humanitarian situations have regional implications, we will also match eligible donations for relief activities in:

Cameroon

Chad

Niger

Ethiopia

Kenya

Uganda

For every eligible dollar donated by individuals to registered Canadian charities between March 17 and June 30, 2017, the Government of Canada will set aside one dollar in the Famine Relief Fund. The government will use the fund to support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations using established Global Affairs Canada channels and procedures.

The Famine Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and is administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means a charity does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada.

Donation criteria for individual Canadians

To be counted toward the Famine Relief Fund, donations must be made by individuals, not exceed $100,000 per individual, and must be:

monetary in nature;

made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to these humanitarian crises; *

specifically earmarked in response to the crises;

made between March 17 and June 30, 2017; and

be declared by the registered charity receiving the donation to Global Affairs Canada by July 7, 2017.

* Please note, donations cannot be made directly to the Famine Relief Fund or to Global Affairs Canada.

Donation criteria for individuals fundraising on behalf of organizations

Donations from a fundraising event undertaken to raise money from individuals in response to these humanitarian crises are eligible to be matched. This fundraising may be undertaken by schools, faith-based organizations, clubs, social groups, businesses, incorporated entities or charitable organizations.

Any donations made by corporations, governments, businesses, partnerships, schools, incorporated or non-incorporated entities, and unions from their existing resources that were not raised from individuals specifically in response to the famine are not eligible to be matched. In addition, donations to augment the amount originally raised from individuals through a fundraising activity or event are not eligible to be matched.

For more information about making a donation eligible for the Famine Relief Fund on behalf of corporations, organizations and groups, visit the How to make a donation page.

Donation criteria for registered charities

Registered charities declaring eligible donations are required to complete the Famine Relief Fund Declaration Form which must be received by Global Affairs Canada on or before July 7, 2017, 2017, for its donations to be counted toward the Relief fund.

To ensure that donations are eligible for the matching program, registered charities must ensure that:

donations comply with the conditions outlined above;

donations will be used to address the needs resulting from these humanitarian crises; and

It is up to the registered Canadian charity to certify that the donations declared are eligible. Registered Canadian charities are under no obligation to declare donations to Global Affairs Canada if they are not satisfied that they meet the eligibility requirements.

The Famine Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and is administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity declaring the amount of eligible donations raised does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, the government sets aside one dollar for the Relief Fund. The government will use the fund to support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations to meet needs resulting from these humanitarian crises.

Allocation of funds

Charitable organizations fundraising for relief efforts in the countries impacted by these humanitarian crises will not have privileged access to financing from the relief fund. The allocation of the Famine Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and is administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity itself does not directly receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada for each dollar that they report.